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4w ago

Putin's Gift of Trump Portrait Raises Questions During Ceasefire Talks

The Kremlin confirms the delivery of a commissioned Trump portrait to the U.S. president, with no White House comment on its security examination.

Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, speaks during a television interview outside the White House, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
FILE - President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Russian President Vladimir Putin also prayed for 'friend' and US counterpart Donald Trump when he was shot during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
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Overview

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted a portrait of Donald Trump to Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, earlier this month in Moscow.
  • The Kremlin confirmed the gift, which was commissioned by Putin and created by a leading Russian artist, describing it as a personal gesture during ongoing Ukraine ceasefire negotiations.
  • Steve Witkoff, who delivered the portrait to Trump, stated that the U.S. president was 'clearly touched' by the 'beautiful' painting and called Putin's gesture 'gracious.'
  • The White House has not commented on the portrait or whether it has undergone a security examination, raising concerns given historical instances of bugged gifts from Russia.
  • Ceasefire talks between U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials continue in Saudi Arabia, with no significant breakthroughs reported as of this week.